Stephen Banks Leonard (April 15, 1793 – May 8, 1876) was an American newspaperman and politician who served two non-consecutive terms as a

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Article One of th ...

from

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

from 1835 to 1837, and from 1839 to 1841.

Biography

Born in New York City, Leonard attended the public schools. He moved with his parents to

Owego, New York Owego is a Administrative divisions of New York#Town, town in Tioga County, New York, Tioga County, New York (state), New York, United States. The population was 18,728 at the 2020 census. The name is derived from the Iroquoian languages, Iro ...

, and learned the printer's trade. He engaged in newspaper work in

Albany, New York Albany ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It is located on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River. Albany is the oldes ...

. He moved to New York City and subsequently returned to Owego. He was publisher and editor of the Owego Gazette 1814–1835. Trustee of the village of Owego. Supervisor and commissioner of excise. Trustee of Owego Academy for many years. He established the first stage route from Owego to Bath in 1816. Postmaster of Owego 1816–1820.

Congress

Leonard was elected as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1837). Leonard was elected as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...

to the Twenty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1841). He served as chairman of the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds (Twenty-sixth Congress). He declined to be a candidate for reelection in 1840 to the Twenty-seventh Congress.

Later career and death

He engaged in mercantile and agricultural pursuits. Supervisor of Owego 1854–1856. Deputy United States marshal 1857–1861. He died in

, May 8, 1876. He was interred in the Presbyterian Church Burying Ground.

Sources

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leonard, Stephen B. 1793 births 1876 deaths Law enforcement officials from New York (state) United States Marshals Jacksonian members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state) Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state) People from Owego, New York 19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives